Startup of Electromethanogenic Microbial Electrolysis Cells with Two Different Biomass Inocula for Biogas Upgrading

The performance and biomass enrichment of the biocathode of a pair of lab-scale two-chambered microbial electrolysis cells (MEC) were assessed for 95 days as a technology for upgrading the biogas produced in anaerobic digesters, converting CO₂ into CH₄ through the electromethanogenic process. Two different inocula were compared: (i) a mixture of biomass from the anode of a MEC and anaerobic granular sludge (BC1); (ii) biomass enriched in a methanol-fed upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactor (UASB) (BC2). Quantitative and qualitative microbial community assessment of the enrichment process on the biocathodes was performed by means of high-throughput sequencing of 16S rDNA- and 16S rRNA-based massive libraries as well as RT-qPCR of 16S rRNA and mcrA genes. Although BC2 had a faster increase in current density than BC1, there were no significant differences neither in the average CH₄ production (0.23 ± 0.01 and 0.22 ± 0.05 L m^–3 day^–1 for BC1 and BC2, respectively) nor in the cathodic methane recovery efficiency (65 ± 8% and 79 ± 17%, respectively). Independently from the origin of the inoculum, total and active archaeal microbial community in both biocathodes was dominated by hydrogenotrophic methanogenic archaea, especially belonging to Methanobacteriaceae family (mainly Methanobrevibacter genus) (84–98% of both 16S rDNA and 16S rRNA relative abundance).